Chemistry at Lancaster
Undergraduate Prospectus
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
A warm welcome
to some real chemistry
It’s an exciting time to be part of
Chemistry at Lancaster
In October 2012, I began as Head
of the then brand new Department
of Chemistry here at Lancaster.
Our first undergraduate students
started in October 2013, and as I
write this, they have just completed
their first end-of-year exams.
I am immensely proud of the hard
work, time and effort our staff and
students have put in to develop
Chemistry at Lancaster in such a
short time, into a vibrant, modern
and collegiate Department.
Part of what attracted me to
Lancaster was the opportunity to
shape a new Department at one
of the UK’s leading Universities.
Lancaster University, currently
celebrating its 50th year, has a
well-deserved reputation as
an inclusive, friendly and safe
environment in which to live, study
and work. It is also committed to
maintaining its position as a centre
for excellence in teaching
and research.
Another attraction was the chance
to develop a modern chemistry
curriculum, designed to inspire
a new generation of chemistry
students with cutting-edge
knowledge, taught in small classes
by a team of world-class academic
staff whose research is addressing
many of the major challenges we
will face over the coming century.
Our Chemistry Department is
located at the heart of the 360 acre
Lancaster campus; an ambitious
£18 million building project is
currently underway to provide
us with new, custom-designed
facilities to support our teaching
and research.
I look forward to meeting you at one
of our open days, where you will
be able to tour our facilities, meet
out staff and current students,
and where you can get a taste of
Lancaster life for yourself.
Professor Peter Fielden,
Head of Chemistry
Undergraduate Chemistry
01/02
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Why Chemistry?
Why Lancaster?
Chemists have been instrumental in developing our
modern world; expanding food sources through fertilisers;
powering our lives with batteries, fuels and electricity;
building structures and devices of ever increasing
complexity from specialised materials; curing disease
with advanced pharmaceuticals; and enabling us to
explore and inhabit space.
Chemistry is a fundamental part of
our daily lives, and increasingly we
shape our world by understanding
and controlling chemical
processes. Moreover, many of the
biggest challenges we will face as
a society over this century will only
be solved by advances in
chemistry research.
Chemistry at Lancaster is wellplaced to contribute, with an
energetic team of academic,
technical and administrative staff
who are working to develop a
modern chemistry department
competitive with the very best the
UK has to offer.
As we publish this, we are a little
over half way through our currently
planned staff recruitment. Between
October 2012 and October 2013,
we recruited 10 new academic
staff, and we have just been
through another successful round
of recruitment. We will shortly
be welcoming more academic,
technical and administrative
support staff to our Department.
By the end of 2014, the next phase
of our £18 million building project
will be completed, and will provide
us with new, custom-designed
laboratories to support our
teaching.
The University’s investment in
Chemistry is also enabling us to
equip our new laboratories with
advanced instrumentation and
equipment, both for research
and to support our practical
chemistry teaching.
The Faculty of Science and
Technology, where Chemistry is the
newest department, is also seeing
significant investment from the
University, with a new Engineering
Building due for completion by the
end of 2014, and a major Physics
refurbishment project planned
for 2015.
Lancaster University itself is one of
the highest rated universities in the
UK, and has a growing international
reputation for excellence.
One of only five college-based
Universities in the UK, it is situated
on a 360 acre parkland campus
about three miles outside of the
historic city of Lancaster.
Undergraduate Chemistry
03/04
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Chemistry is a fundamental part of our
daily lives, and increasingly we shape our
world by understanding and controlling
chemical processes.
Undergraduate Chemistry
05/06
Degree Programmes
We offer 3 year BSc and 4 year integrated Masters (MChem)
Chemistry degrees, including an option to study at a North
American university in the third year of the Masters degree.
Chemistry is a diverse
discipline, encompassing many
interconnected subjects. We have
developed our new degree
programmes to reflect this. Each
of our single-honours Chemistry
programmes shares a common
first and second year, introducing
many of the key concepts in
chemistry, providing information
on the breadth and diversity of
chemistry, together with the links
between the different topics.
For our BSc course, third year
provides the opportunity to study
more advanced areas of chemistry
in greater detail, together with the
chance to undertake a 10-week
project in an area of modern
chemistry research.
On our MChem study year in North
America course, third year is spent
studying at a prestigious North
American university; your time
spent at a North American
university will count towards your
degree here in Lancaster. Potential
placements include the Universities
of British Columbia and Western
Ontario in Canada, and the
Universities of Florida, Maine,
Miami, and Illinois in the USA.
Our Lancaster-based MChem has
a third year that involves studying
advanced areas of chemistry in
greater detail, together with
research skills and techniques,
and provides the opportunity to
begin specialising in particular
areas of chemistry.
Our MChem degrees share a
common fourth year; the majority
of fourth year is based around a
major independent research
project undertaken in our research
laboratories, with taught courses
offering the opportunity to further
specialise in a particular area of
advanced chemistry.
Chemistry can also be studied
at Lancaster as part of an
Environmental Chemistry degree,
taught in conjunction with
Lancaster Environment Centre.
On these degrees, after first year
you begin to specialise in areas of
chemistry and environmental
science which are complementary
and interrelated. Research projects
on these degrees are in
environmental chemistry.
Lancaster also offers degrees
in Biochemistry and Chemical
Engineering, and the opportunity
to study chemistry as part of the
Natural Sciences degree
programme.
Our Chemistry Degrees:
• BSc Chemistry (F100)
• MChem Chemistry (F101)
•MChem Chemistry/
Study in North America (F1T7)
Our Environmental
Chemistry Degrees:
• B
Sc Environmental Chemistry
(F140)
• MChem Environmental
Chemistry (F142)
• MChem Environmental
Chemistry/Study Abroad (F143)
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Teaching
We teach chemistry as an integrated subject, emphasising
both the practical and theoretical skills that are becoming
increasingly important for a modern chemistry graduate.
The development of transferrable skills is also a key part of
our degree programmes, so you are well-prepared for life
after your degree.
Research in the chemical sciences
typically spans the classical
Inorganic, Organic and Physical
(IOP) chemistry boundaries.
For example, a modern synthetic
chemist may make an organic
molecule, use it as a ligand in a
metal complex, characterise the
properties of the complex using
spectroscopic techniques,
and may use computational
chemistry methods to rationalise
its behaviour.
Our approach to teaching also
rejects these historical divisions.
We prefer the categories
synthesis and characterisation;
measurement and analysis;
and theory and computation.
Integrated within all areas of
our teaching are practical and
theoretical skills that are essential
for a thorough understanding of
chemistry, and which are so valued
by employers. An average week
in first year involves at least two
afternoons of practical laboratorybased sessions, and at least six
chemistry lectures.
In Lancaster, the academic year is
divided into three 10 week terms,
Michaelmas, Lent and Summer.
Our taught courses comprise
five or ten week modules, and
typically three modules run in
parallel, structured so that labs
and lectures on a given topic run
during the same period.
In first year, modules run for the
first two-and-a-half terms. From
second year onwards, the majority
of the teaching is during the first
two terms. Many of our modules
also have end-of-year exams,
which take place in the third term.
All of our modules involve some
form of continual assessment,
or coursework, and may take
the form of weekly problems
sheets, practical write-ups,
mini-reports etc.
From the 2014/15 academic year,
our practical teaching will take
place in our brand-new, customdesigned synthetic, physical
and computational teaching
laboratories.
Undergraduate Chemistry
07/08
First Year
The first year of our Chemistry
degree involves studying two-thirds
chemistry, together with one-third
free choice (timetable-permitting)
from the options offered by other
departments across the University.
Common choices include Physics,
Biology, Environmental Sciences,
Maths and Psychology.
Each third of the first year at
Lancaster is known as a theme.
The first of the Chemistry themes
contains five modules related to
chemical synthesis; this includes
courses on the structure and
bonding of molecules, and organic
and inorganic chemistry.
The second of the two themes
contains modules on physical and
analytical chemistry, together with
our preparatory Maths courses,
which are designed to introduce
the relevant mathematical material
needed for the degree.
These two themes combine
to provide you with a broad
introduction to degree-level
chemistry, and will ensure that you
have the foundation knowledge
you will need to go on to study more
advanced topics in later years of the
chemistry degree, irrespective of
your pre-Lancaster background.
In addition to the teaching
associated with the specific
themes, we also offer additional
small group tutorials that seek to
give students additional insight into
university-level chemistry, through
exposing them to the ideas behind
our research at an early stage.
First Year Timetable
A typical week for a 1st year chemistry student
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
9.00
9.00
9.00
9.00
9.00
CHEM110
Lecture
CHEM100
Seminar
10.00
10.00
10.00
10.00
ENV100
Lecture
CHEM110
Lecture
11.00
11.00
CHEM100
Lecture
11.00
ENV100
Lecture
12.00
12.00
CHEM100
Lecture
13.00
11.00
11.00
CHEM110
Lecture
12.00
12.00
ENV100
Lecture
13.00
10.00
13.00
12.00
CHEM110
Seminar
13.00
13.00
CHEM100
Lecture
14.00
14.00
CHEM100
Lab Class
ENV100
Lab Class
15.00
15.00
CHEM100
Lab Class
ENV100
Lab Class
16.00
16.00
CHEM100
Lab Class
ENV100
Lab Class
17.00
17.00
CHEM100
Lab Class
ENV100
Lab Class
14.00
14.00
14.00
CHEM110
Lab Class
15.00
15.00
15.00
CHEM110
Lab Class
16.00
16.00
16.00
CHEM110
Lab Class
17.00
17.00
CHEM110
Lab Class
17.00
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Second Year
The second year of our Chemistry degrees builds upon
the strong foundations of first year, where we introduce a
range of new topics, and go into greater depth with more
familiar topics.
The structure of second year is a
little different from first year, and
is based around studying three
Chemistry modules at any one
time, for the first two terms. All
of our chemistry modules have
been designed to encourage the
development of problem solving,
communication, practical, research
and technical skills. We also offer a
transferrable skills and employability
module, which seeks to provide our
students with explicit practice in
many of these skills in a broader
context.
The chemistry modules you
will study include:
As in first year, associated with each
module are lectures, practical
classes (either synthetic, physical or
computational), and a combination
of seminars, tutorials and workshops.
•
advanced coordination
chemistry
It is also during second year that the
small class sizes we offer really
becomes an advantage, as it affords
our staff more time per student than
many of our competitor institutions.
• chemistry of π-systems
•
strategies for chemical synthesis
•
analysis and determination of
organic structure
•
the physical principles of
spectroscopy
•
thermodynamics and statistical
mechanics
• phase transfer and kinetics
•
organometallics, catalysis and
mechanism
• solids, surfaces and soft matter
•
quantum chemistry, symmetry
and group theory
Undergraduate Chemistry
09/10
Third and Fourth Year
The final years of our degree programmes allow an element of
specialisation within your degree, and provide the opportunity
for all students to undertake independent research projects in
conjunction with one of our world-leading research groups.
The third year of our Chemistry
degrees varies depending on your
degree programme: BSc students
undertake an independent research
project, MChem North America
students will be away studying at
a North American university, and
MChem students will have the
opportunity to specialise.
Third year is roughly structured
around a common first term,
involving several core chemistry
topics, introducing f-block
chemistry, advanced techniques
in synthesis and chemical biology,
and computational chemistry,
together with developing several
familiar subjects in greater depth.
The second term provides the
opportunity for BSc students
to undertake an independent
research project. All Lancasterbased students can choose from
a number of advanced, optional
modules, currently including
modules on advanced techniques
for analytical separations, the
chemistry of biomedical imaging,
and polymer chemistry.
Fourth year involves a major
independent research project,
that will run throughout the first two
terms. For more information on the
possible areas of research, see the
research section of this prospectus.
The remainder of fourth year will
consist of optional taught courses,
from a wide selection offered by our
research-active academic staff in
their particular specialisms.
As we expand as a department,
more options will become
available in both third and fourth
year, but choices are currently
expected to include:
• organic catalysis
• materials design
• liquid crystals
• theoretical spectroscopy
• solid-state NMR
• energy materials
• biochemistry
• supramolecular chemistry
• advanced polymer chemistry
• advanced quantum chemistry
•
advanced analytical and
spectroscopic techniques
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
The Student Experience
We recognise the huge importance of our students and
the major contribution that they bring to our Department.
Students are at the heart of all of our activity here
at Lancaster.
Lancaster offers an unparalleled
experience for its students, which
has led to its secure place as the
most-highly regarded university in
the North West of England:
•
It is one of only five college-based
universities in the UK
•
It is a campus-based university,
providing a safe, secure and
friendly environment in which to
live, study and work
•
The University has excellent,
modern facilities to support its
students
•
The University’s student charter
clearly sets out what you can
expect from the University,
and what the University expects
of its students
All members of the University are
also members of the colleges.
Each of the eight undergraduate
colleges provides a different
experience, but all are far more than
just halls of residence; they are
small communities, which provide
pastoral support, and an active
social life, with college bars, and
sports teams.
Lancaster guarantees on-campus
accommodation to all first-year
students who make Lancaster their
first choice. However, with over
7,500 bed-study rooms on campus,
a large proportion of our students
spend all three or four years
resident on campus.
The campus is also home to the
library (currently undergoing a
£15 million refurbishment), the
student learning zone, the Nuffield
theatre, restaurants, coffee houses,
shops and supermarkets, a recently
opened £20 million sports centre,
and houses the many departments
within the University, including the
new Chemistry building, due for
completion in summer 2015.
Undergraduate Chemistry
Chemistry has several advantages
over other departments in the UK;
we benefit from small class sizes
(our expected intake for 2015/16
is around 45 students—long-term
we expect to reach 60 students
per year), and excellent staff-tostudent ratios, as our staff numbers
are growing alongside our student
numbers.
We also have the advantage
of offering a new, modern
curriculum, where chemistry is
taught as an integrated subject,
with an emphasis on developing
both chemistry-specific and
transferrable skills. Our staff excel in
teaching and in research, so you will
be taught by world-leaders in their
respective fields. From late 2014,
our teaching will also take place
in brand-new, custom-designed
teaching laboratories.
Our degree programmes are
flexible; on our single-honours
chemistry courses you are able to
study a second subject as a ‘minor’
in first year, and you can switch
between the BSc and MChem
courses (subject to internal grade
requirements at the end of each
year) at any point before the end
of second year.
The Department is also establishing
itself as a centre for research
excellence, and as a vibrant,
friendly environment in which
to study and learn.
11/12
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Research in Chemistry
Chemistry at Lancaster is growing into a modern centre
for chemistry research. Our academic staff have a strong
background in both fundamental and contemporary
research of technological relevance, and seek to address
many of the major challenges we face.
Our academic staff have moved
to Lancaster to continue their
successful research careers
begun at other leading researchintensive universities across the
UK and in Europe. They are keen
to develop Chemistry at Lancaster
into a world-renowned centre for
chemistry research, but equally
one built around the values we
share as a Department.
Our approach to research mirrors
that of our degree programmes
and courses; create a vibrant,
collegiate atmosphere to foster
creativity and excellence
in research.
Modern research that seeks to
address the major challenges
we face as a global community is
inherently a collaborative effort,
so in addition to our chemistryspecific research, we are
developing research programmes
that cross the standard discipline
boundaries, and indeed the
interfaces with the other natural
sciences, including biology,
engineering, environmental
science, medicine, mathematics
and physics, and that engage with
government and industry.
Research within chemistry at
Lancaster is roughly structured
around three core themes
•
Synthetic Chemistry;
•
Analytical Chemistry and
Spectroscopy;
•
Chemical Theory and
Computation;
which collect together academic
research groups with similar
fundamental skills and interests.
Research across our three themes
is supported by the significant
investment in Chemistry by the
University; the first of our new,
custom-designed research
labs and instrument suites were
completed at the end of 2013.
Major new synthetic, physical
and computational research
laboratories, together with further
instrument suites to house our
growing collection of state-of-theart equipment and instrumentation,
will open over the next year.
We actively collaborate across
research themes, and with experts
in the wider University, in other
universities, and in industry
and government, to strengthen
and widen our research and its
potential applications.
Undergraduate Chemistry
13/14
In the final year of your degree, you
will have the opportunity to undertake
a piece of original research within the
research group of one of our academic
members of staff.
You will be able to choose from
research projects offered by our
growing number of academic staff.
The following information will give
you an idea of the type of research
our current staff are interested in.
Any of our staff would be happy
to answer any questions you may
have about their specific research
interests; please see our website
for more details and contact
information.
Analytical Chemistry and
Spectroscopy
Synthetic Chemistry
Chemical Theory and
Computation
Our synthesis research section
is the largest in the Department,
and brings together research
groups with expertise in molecule
and material synthesis, design
and characterisation, such as
bioimaging; organic synthesis;
catalysis; polymers; liquid crystals;
and supramolecular chemistry.
This section collects our research
groups with particular expertise
in the chemical and physical
properties of molecules and
materials, such as solid-state
NMR; spectroscopy of biological
systems; electrochemistry
and microfluidics; energy
and photovoltaics.
The chemical theory and
computation research groups
have expertise in molecular
simulation, molecular assembly
and phase transitions in solids
and soft matter; quantum
chemistry and theoretical
spectroscopy; materials modelling
and property simulation.
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
The Department
Chemistry at Lancaster was founded in
late 2012, with the intention of creating
a world-renowned centre for excellence
in chemistry teaching and research.
As a Department we have large
ambitions; to develop into a worldleading centre for chemistry, with
an inclusive, friendly and collegiate
atmosphere.
To support our goals, the University
has invested £26 million to develop
the Chemistry Department. This
investment is shared between
staff recruitment, purchasing an
extensive array of cutting-edge
instrumentation and equipment,
and our major building programme,
an £18 million redevelopment
to provide us with new, customdesigned spaces to support
cutting-edge teaching and
research activities.
The next phase, due to open by the
end of 2014, will provide teaching
facilities including a new 60-person
synthetic laboratory with thirty
fumehoods and a new 60-person
physical laboratory supporting a
variety of modern spectroscopic
and analytical instrumentation; two
smaller computational laboratories,
and a number of instrument
rooms to house more specialised
equipment will follow in 2015.
To supplement our existing research
facilities, including our solutionstate NMR suite and general
research laboratory, new synthetic,
physical and computational
research laboratories will open by
summer 2015, together with solidstate NMR, mass spectrometry and
X-ray diffraction suites, housing an
impressive array of new
instrumentation.
The building programme will also
provide office space to house
our growing numbers of staff,
and communal and study areas
for use by chemistry students.
Since 2012, the Department has
grown to its current size of
(as of June 2014) 12 members
of academic staff, 4 technical
staff and 3 administrative staff.
Our planned recruitment will have
another five members of academic
staff in place by the end of 2014,
and more beyond.
We also have a growing number
of post-graduate students and
research associates.
Each year we are growing our
undergraduate intake; our planned
undergraduate recruitment
for 2015/16 entry is around
45 students.
Undergraduate Chemistry
15/16
Architect’s Impressions of one of our new
undergraduate teaching laboratories, and of the
front elevation of the Chemistry Department
The University has invested £26 million into the Chemistry
Department including purchasing an extensive array of
cutting-edge instrumentation and equipment.
W
NE
LOW
L
FO
O
T
ES
G
IMA
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Industry and Careers
Chemistry is well-placed to contribute to business and
industry; much of our research has direct applications
across the chemical industry.
Despite the amazing success
of chemistry, there are many
challenges that remain. Amongst
many others, we need to develop
new energy sources, make better
use of our energy supplies by
creating energy efficient lighting,
transport and materials, more
powerful batteries, biodegradable
plastics, industrial processes
that are less damaging to the
environment, more efficient
fertilisers, and pharmaceuticals
for the treatment of disease.
By studying chemistry, you
will learn how to address such
fundamental challenges, and you
will be taught creative problemsolving skills that will enable you
to find unique ways of solving
them. In the future, you may be
responsible for changing the world
in your own way, by solving one of
these problems, or even by solving
new problems that no one has
recognised yet.
Our research directly links to
applications in the following areas:
• biological imaging
• organic light-emitting devices
• lab on a chip
• solar cells
• biodegradable plastics
•pharmaceuticals
• purification techniques
We already have research links with
industry, in terms of consultancy
and direct collaborative/
partnership projects. We are keen
to expand our links to encompass
our undergraduate courses.
Careers
Chemistry degrees open up a
wealth of career opportunities, and
are highly valued by employers
across the public and private
sectors. Many graduates will further
their education by taking higher
degrees (e.g., MSc/ MPhil/ PhD).
Undergraduate Chemistry
Some likely areas of chemistry
related graduate employment are:
•all areas of chemical industry,
ranging from multinational oil,
chemical and pharmaceutical
companies, to a host of smaller
enterprises producing new and
specialised products
•public health and environmental
protection
• research in universities,
government institutions,
industry and private agencies
•teaching
• patent agencies
• scientific journalism
• forensic science
• postgraduate medicine
Graduates can also seek
employment in a wide range of
non-chemistry related
industries, due to the many
valuable transferable skills that
are developed by a degree
in Chemistry – for example,
numeracy, data analysis,
computing, practical skills, critical
evaluation and presentation of
both written and verbal reports.
Such skills are highly valued by
employers and are required in
many areas of managerial and
administrative work, in business,
commerce, finance, banking or the
Civil Service. Chemists have moved
easily into occupations in all of
these areas.
17/18
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Key Information
These pages contain key information about how to apply
to study chemistry at Lancaster, our courses and degree
programmes, and some important facts about our Department.
Admissions
Degree Programmes
Entry Requirements
All applications to study on our
degree schemes here at Lancaster
must be completed through UCAS,
the UK Universities and Colleges
Admissions Service (see ucas.com
for more details).
BSc or MChem
A-level
If you are uncertain whether you
want to study for three or four
years, bear in mind it is possible
to switch between the BSc and
MChem at any point during
your first two years of study
at Lancaster. However, this is
subject to internal progression
requirements; you must obtain an
upper second class mark overall in
your studies to be allowed to stay
on the MChem.
A-level Chemistry is a required
subject for all of our courses.
We also typically require an A-level
in a second science subject
(preferably biology, mathematics
or physics). The third A-level can
be in any subject.
For the 2015/16 admissions round,
applications must be received by
UCAS by the 15th January 2015.
All UCAS applicants will be invited
to visit us for a day to explore
where you might be spending
the next three or four years.
More information on visiting us
here at Lancaster is available at
the end of this prospectus.
North America
Should you be interested in the
MChem North America degree,
it is best if you apply directly for
that degree. We cannot guarantee
a place unless you apply directly
for that programme. Again, this
course is subject to higher internal
progression requirements than
our other degrees. You are free
to switch to a Lancaster-based
degree at any time.
Environmental Chemistry
A number of our applicants have
applied for both the Chemistry and
Environmental Chemistry degrees;
you need only apply to one.
You are free to switch between
each of these programmes once
you arrive in Lancaster.
For our BSc degrees, our typical
offer is ABB with an A in chemistry.
For the MChem and the F1T7
MChem North America degrees,
the typical offer is higher.
Details of our standard offers for
non-A-level routes can be found
on our website.
Maths
Many chemistry students are
surprised by the maths content of
degree-level chemistry. To prepare
our students for this, all our
programmes include introductory
mathematics courses to cover
this material. We therefore do
not require A-level Maths
(or equivalent), although it is
useful if you have studied maths
to that level.
We do however require a good
grade in GCSE Maths
(or equivalent).
Undergraduate Chemistry
17/18
19/20
Finance
General Information
Lancaster University’s priority is to
support every student to make the
most of their life and education.
As part of this, Lancaster University
has committed £3.7 million in
scholarships and bursaries to help
with your fees and living costs.
Our financial support depends on
your circumstances and how well
you do in your A levels (or equivalent
academic qualifications) before
starting study with us.
League table position
For more details, and for general
information about fees and
funding, see the website:
Lancaster.ac.uk/study/
undergraduate/fees-and-funding/
Accommodation
Lancaster University guarantees
on-campus accommodation to
all first-year students who make
Lancaster their first choice.
However, with over 7,500 bedstudy rooms on campus, a very
large proportion of our students
spend all three or four years
resident on campus.
Our Residences Office can offer
you a wide range of campus and
off-campus accommodation
managed by the University or
the Students’ Union, making it
easy to choose the right type of
accommodation for you, whatever
your needs and budget. Much more
information is available from the
accommodation web site:
Lancaster.ac.uk/sbs/
accommodation
Lancaster University is consistently
rated as one of the best Universities
in the UK: placed 10th in the 2015
Guardian league table and 11th in
the 2015 Complete University Guide.
Lancaster is the best-rated university
in the North-West of England,
well ahead of our neighbours.
Chemistry does not yet appear
in any of the subject-specific
league tables. This simply reflects
the fact that we are a relatively
new department. We are already
working towards completing and
excelling in all of the relevant
criteria.
Royal Society of Chemistry
Accreditation
We are currently working towards
Royal Society of Chemistry
accreditation with the view of
achieving this status by 2017.
If successful, this accreditation will
apply to both the BSc students who
graduate in 2016, and the MChem
cohort who graduate in 2017
(the first of our students to
graduate on the 4 year course).
The structure of the degree is
being developed with the criteria
for accreditation in mind, and we
are in discussion with the Royal
Society of Chemistry over this.
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
Visiting Lancaster
If you are considering applying to Lancaster, we highly
recommend that you come and visit us. You will have
the opportunity to meet current staff and students,
and to experience Lancaster life for yourself.
Lancaster University is situated on a
360 acre parkland site, about three
miles from the centre of the historic
city of Lancaster, around five miles
from the coast, and within easy
reach of The Forest of Bowland and
the Lake District National Park.
The city of Lancaster is easily
reached via the M6, and has a major
station on the West Coast Mainline,
served by trains between London
Euston, via Birmingham, to Glasgow
or Edinburgh, between Manchester
and Scotland, and a variety of
local services.
The campus is connected to
Lancaster city centre by a frequent
bus service, which takes between
10 and 15 minutes.
For more visitor information, see:
Lancaster.ac.uk/opentoall
The Lancaster campus is home
to our academic and support
departments, colleges and student
accommodation, together with the
library, student learning zone, Nuffield
theatre, sports centre with facilities
for social and competitive sport,
a supermarket, bank, travel agent,
pharmacy, dentist, medical centre,
hairdressing salon, and a variety of
restaurants, bars and cafes.
More information about the
campus can be found at:
Lancaster.ac.uk/about-us
Post-Application Open Days
All UCAS applicants will be invited
to visit us for a day to explore where
you might be spending the next
three or four years. We will show you
the Department, the University and
the colleges, and you will have the
chance to meet with some of our
current staff and students. The day
will also involve lunch, and learning
more practical information about
the Department and the University.
You will also have the opportunity
to try out a practical chemistry
experiment for yourself.
Pre-Application Visit Days
If you are considering applying to
Lancaster, or just want to find out
more about us, you could attend
one of the University Visit Days.
For more information, see:
Lancaster.ac.uk/visit-us
Undergraduate Chemistry
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Department of Chemistry,
Chemistry Building,
Lancaster University,
Lancaster,
LA1 4YB
United Kingdom
T: +44 01524 593241
E: [email protected]
www.lancaster.ac.uk/chemistry
@ChematLancaster
www.facebook.com/ChematLancaster
Admissions Tutor:
Dr Michael Peach
E: [email protected]
Admissions Coordinator:
Emma Shaw
E: [email protected]